Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first hatrick for Manchester United yesterday as we cruised to a 6-0 victory over Newcastle. He’s now got sixteen in the league and a total of twenty two goals in all competitions. Last season, when he collected a clean sweep of the domestic individual awards, he scored a total of twenty three goals. With four months of the season to go, it brings about frightening possibilities over what Ronaldo can and will achieve.
Sir Alex Ferguson has held an annual bet with Ronaldo over how many goals he can score since he joined us in 2003. This season however Ferguson said there would be no bet unless it was for fifty goals, something which Ronaldo did not take him up on. “We wondered at the start of last season whether he could match last season’s tally of 23. You had to say ‘why not?’ I expected him to score more this season because he works so hard. That’s why there were no bets this season, all bets are off with Ronaldo,” Ferguson joked. “[His first hat-trick] was always coming. He’s been close on a number of occasions but today he capped a really fine display with the hat-trick. We’re all delighted for him.”
Twenty two goals in twenty four games is a pretty unbelievable statistic and certainly proves that Ronaldo is not just a one season wonder. Whilst I can look to Cantona and Keane as hugely influential players over the past fifteen years, I struggle to think of a player who has been more effective for us than Ronaldo. Ruud van Nistelrooy scored a hell of a lot of goals, his best season coming in 2002-2003 where he scored 44 goals in 50 games, 25 of those in the league. However, he contributed little else to anyone else’s game. Our tactics were rather rigid when Ruud was in our team. They were essentially ‘give the ball to Ruud in the box’ and whilst simple, it was bloody effective for the most part, if not a little one dimensional.
In contrast, Ronaldo brings so much to our game, and does not rely on the service of others. He had more assists than anyone in the league last season, and whilst this number has decreased this season, there is no doubt that he contributes massively to our team. He is just as able at starting attacks as he is finishing them, charging down the wings or the centre of the park, passing the ball on to the full backs or other attackers to provide the goals. Ronaldo doesn’t need other players to set up his goals, he can make them for himself. He can create room for other players to score by taking two defenders out of the action with a simple run. He has the ability to score and provide for others week in week out and has become a massively important element in our team.
With all he is bringing to United at the moment, what would you like to see him improve on? Can Ronaldo get any better?
Man Utd News 24/7
I’m still scared at the possibility of him leaving. I know he says that he loves United, but just the thought of Ronaldo leaving our club frightens me.
On another note: it’s amazing to watch the development of this player. Not many players in their prime of 26-29 years old can match the amount of influence Ronaldo has on the field and to realize that he’s only 22(?) is almost unbelievable.
I still think he can cut down on the unnecessary tricks, which often lead to nothing, and which occur at the expense of the not taken option of pass to someone open. He did a couple yesterday deep in our end, which ended up in giveaways that a better team may have capitalized on. He has to balance the thought that he can do anything with the thought that there are others on the pitch he can pass to, at least a bit better than he currently does.
i guess he should work more on his freekicks they are great but he can do better
This is a little churlish, and I know you’ve written about this before, but I would like to see the back of the (occasional) dives. I get the feeling that most of them stem from frustration with not being awarded free kicks when he is scythed down, but even so… But in all fairness, this is the only thing I can think of, the lad’s a legend.
Ronny gave the ball away quite a few times in the first half yesterday, but the 3 goals have taken that memory away. I would like to see him at United for life, as well as Rooney and Tevez, imagine them growing ‘old’ together and reaching 25/26 still powering United through games.. ah but Wayne is the only one who hasn’t said he’d like to play at another cub one day. Love it and Live it while it lasts.
YES ! IFhe can stop the petulant whingeing, occasional diving, and the tendency to go it alone THEN not only will he be a better player but he will make his team-mates better.
When CR7 first appeared in UTD’s colours against Bolton four years ago it was immediately apparent that this kid had special talent, special speed, and special courage. It’s been a job of work for the manager (and his trusty companion, CQ) to turn this potential into realized ability but it would seem that , not coincidentally, he has ‘turned a corner’ since the departure of Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
How good can he be ? The mind boggles because he has all the requirements for supestardom – speed, vision, abundant talent, courage, size, and an insatiable appetite for success.
From my vantage-point, having seen Georgie Best in his prime, CR7 is at that level -
“Maradona good,
Pele Better,
Georgie Best”
So, what can we add to that ?
A bit churlish of my fellow reds to pepper their praise of Ronnie with negatives regarding his “whingeing” and “diving.” To be honest i’m more concerned about his alledged inability to keep out of europe’s top brass houses. However this allegation was printed in today’s News of the World so is probably a load of s**te. Ronnie was simply amazing yesterday. I feel able to approximate how my old man must have felt on witnessing the babes and the days of Best, Law and commrade Charlton. However, like the other reds on this blog, i fear that we should truly savour performances like yesterdays as he may not be here for much longer. I was convinced he’d go last summer. Then again i’d like to think he may stay as long as Fergie and Carlos continue to man the helm at OT. As both, as the story goes, provided and still provide a great deal of emotional support to him since the sad passing of his father, a couple of years ago.
” I know he says that he loves United, but just the thought of Ronaldo leaving our club frightens me.”- mark
Hey Mark, imagine the fear of our opposing fans/teams when they have to face him!!!
No doubt as long as SAF and CQ are around will be Ronaldo. Can you really see him going anywhere at the moment? Not I. He has the footballing world at his fingertips, opportunities abound. Best player in the best league, with a real chance at lifting multiple trophies for years to come. I really think that is the catch-all. Once the RedDevils stop compteting for Champs league glory should we even begin to consider Ronnie looking elsewhere. I’m not so sure that will happen anytime soon!
As mentioned above in denton davey’s post, he has an opportunity to to place himself with the greatest who ever have played the game, ( and I dare say ), possibly even surpass them. What club can offer him the support United have to achieve that?
his form since the world cup has been amazing, Im too young to have seen best edwards law but he is the best united player I have ever seen and that includes robbo,keane,mcgrath,cantona, anyone the guy is the best player on the planet
of course he can as long as he stays at man utd.
in all honesty the boy’s almost there – in fact he is probably really deserved his top 3 world players standing (2nd). however, i think that he needs to be more consistent – especially against top class opposition – so far how many memorable appearances and performances have you seen him in the top european games or with arsenal, liverpool and chelsea? not that many. in fact, there is really nothing much to fault him, he has improved by leaps and bounds, he has found his balance.
just would like him to be able to maintain that with the really big clubs and big games! – more please! bang on CR7! still love ya!
He just need to improve his accuracy on taking free kicks and shooting only and try to raise his game against big teams or where the team is under performing.
Technically, as fergie said yesterday (“He is always practising, improving and his decision-making is getting better”) his decision making still has margins for improvement which is scary because once it will be to a high standard he will be unplayable.
Apart from that he could influence more in the big games but I think that depends even on his decision making as big teams limit his space and time.
Yes he can